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What is a lux meter?

A lux meter is a powerul tool used to identiy energy savings. Use your lux meter to pinpoint over-lit areas in

your oce, then delamp (see over) to reduce energy use.

Using the lux meter

Measure lux levels:

attableorwaistheight

atfourtovedifferentpointsineachroomeither:

- at night (i the room is used at night), or

- ataroundonetotwohoursaftersunriseorbeforesunset.

atatimethatcorrespondsroughlytotheearliestorlatesttheroomwillbeusedinthemiddleofwinter.

Ifdelampinginsummer,rememberthatsunsetsearlierandismuchlower.

Minimumrecommendedlightlevelsinthehorizontalplaneareshowninthetablebelowforvariousareas,

rom AS 1680:1990: Interior Lighting.

Type o room or task Minimum recommended maintenance illuminance (lux)

Circulation and amenity areas

Toilets, change rooms, locker rooms, cleaners rooms 80

Corridors, passageways, ramps 40Stairs Internal: 80

External: 20

Entrancehalls,lobbies,foyers 160

Waiting rooms 160

Enquiry desks 320

Other

First aid Rest rooms: 40

Treatment rooms: 400

Caeterias General: 160

Counters: 240

Kitchens General: 160

Food preparation: 240

Administration areas

Filing areas Simple, clear detail: 240

Dicult, ne detail: 320

Oce General tasks involving typing, reading, writing: 320 Background:160

Meeting rooms 320

Training rooms, seminar rooms 240

Photocopying 240

Lux meterHelping you identify energy savings

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How to delampDelampingofuorescentttingsisachievedmosteasilybyremovingthestarter.

Removethetube,andputastickerinitsplaceindicatingthatithasbeen

deliberatelyremovedtoavoidanyconfusion.

Double fttings

Indoubleuorescentttings,youcanremoveonetube.Ifitseemstoodull,replace

theremainingtubewithabrightertriphosphortube(usessameamountofenergy),

oranevenbrighterquadphosphortube.Youcantareectorontotheremaining

tubetofurtherincreaselightlevels.

Triple fttingsIntriplettingsyouhavethechoiceofremovingoneortwotubes.Itmaybe

possibletoremovetwotubesandputinasinglequadphosphortubewithreector,

reducingyourenergyusebynearlytwothirds.Checkthatthelamprelightsproperly

afterdelamping.Thisisunlikelytobeaproblemwithindividualballastsorasingle

ballastsupplyingtwolampsoperatinginparallel,butwillcauseproblemsiflamps

areinseriesontheoneballast.

Making sure your ofce stays bright

Removing too many lights rom your oce can make your workplace seem dull,

especially i the ceiling and walls are darker colours.

Reections,glare,shadows,areasofbrightcontrastscanmakevisualtasksdifcult.

Thecolourandbrightnessofsurfaces,particularlywalls,ceilingsandoors,also

infuence light levels and light uniormity. Generally, clean white walls and ceilings

make visual tasks easier.

Consultalightingprofessionalifindoubt.

Recycle saely

Fluorescentlampscontainmercury,ahighlytoxicsubstancethatremainsinthe

foodchainandenvironment.Alllampswhichareremovedshouldbesenttoa

mercury recycling centre (make sure that your contractor does this).

PublishedbySustainabilityVictoria.Alsopublishedonsustainability.vic.gov.au

CopyrightSustainabilityVictoria,April2010(ENV033)

Printed on 100% recycled paper